Staples are U-shaped metal fasteners that are driven into a surface to hold or secure an object in place. Small staples are used with a stapler to attach pieces of paper together while larger staples might be used with a hammer or staple gun for fencing, masonry, roofing, and cardboard boxes. The legs of a staple can be allowed to protrude out the back side and folded over to provide greater binding than the friction of straight legs. A fastener is a hardware device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together. It includes bolts, nuts, nail, pin and other such materials. Staples have some advantages over other metal fasteners. Staples are easier to produce, can be used to bridge between two materials butted together, and to provide a greater surface area than other comparable fasteners. Staples are manufactured in two styles. Staples include flat crown and rounded crown styles. Flat crown staples have flat top or crown and are used for general fastening. Rounded crown staples have a curved top and are used to secure wire, tubing, and other rounded items to flat surfaces. Staples are available in different sizes, lengths, styles, and materials.